"If you don't read, nothing happens,
if you read, a lot happens"
That's right. Reading inspires us, motivates us, gives us peace, makes us think, makes us grow — but above all it makes us dream. For many, reading has become the best of therapies, and a good book, if you know how to enjoy it, can become more than just your own personal refuge. Want to know why? It gives you more benefits and vitamins than a freshly-squeezed orange juice in the morning, reduces stress, boosts your emotional development and on top of that, broadens conversation topics with your new flame or your neighbors in the elevator. You can also spend your Sunday afternoon in front of the PlayStation or uploading photos to Instagram… but we're sorry to say that what a good book can give you, video games or social media will never offer. Below we offer you a small roundup of the most famous and best-rated bookshops in the capital.
"He who has a book, has a treasure"
"Tipos Infames" Bookshop (C/ San Joaquín, 3)
If there's one neighborhood famous for its charming bookshops, without a doubt that's Malasaña. Here we have one of them. A space mixing books of every kind with delicious wine tastings. Spread over two floors, it has the perfect atmosphere to sit and read while savoring a glass of delicious red wine. It has become a cultural meeting point for all literature lovers in Madrid. In addition to book presentations and wine tastings, they also hold exhibitions and literary talks.
"La Central" Bookshop (C/ Postigo de San Martín, 8)
It's a literary paradise of nearly more than 70,000 volumes spread across three floors, which could well compete with the big bookshops like Fnac or La Casa del Libro. All kinds of cultural programming take place here. The bookshop, located in a restored old 19th-century mansion, has a pleasant café where you can enjoy a delicious brunch on the weekends while delighting in reading one of its fabulous copies.
"Miguel Miranda" Bookshop (C/ Lope de Vega 19)
Currently located in the heart of the Barrio de las Letras. A family business that goes back to the mid-20th century and has managed to make it to our days thanks to its sweet and wonderful old-world smell that you breathe between its shelves. It's a bookshop specialized in old and out-of-print books. Far from being a stale and boring place as many would think, its marble floors and spiral staircase make it one of the must-visit stops for book lovers.
"8½" Bookshop (C/ Martín de los Heros, 11)
Formerly known as Alphaville and located inside legendary Madrid cinemas. And this is no coincidence. It's a very special bookshop-café, always full and visited by film buffs. The whole place is dedicated to the world of cinema. It's surrounded — without going far — by the oldest original-version screening rooms in Madrid (Cines Golem and Cines Renoir Princesa). The owners' aim was to create a space dedicated to written publications devoted to the film industry, without neglecting the rest of the audiovisual disciplines like television or photography.
"La Libre" Bookshop (C/ Argumosa, 39)
One of the many bookshops that exist in the Lavapiés neighborhood. However, its vintage air makes it one of the most charismatic in the area. It stands out for its books, its coffees and its cakes. And it's also a good spot to head to for a good piece of blues. With a warm and welcoming atmosphere, it's inevitable to feel drawn to its comfortable sofas in winter to enjoy your reading, or to its cool summer terrace.
If you're a lover of books and the stories that revolve around the great authors of Spanish Literature, come and discover our Free Tour: The Unknown Spanish Golden Age (Madrid Free Tours).